Decentralized, modular tripping arrangement

Abstract

A modular circuit interrupter is arranged for interrupting current in a three-phase circuit path providing current from a three-phase source to a three-phase motor. The interrupter includes a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the circuit path in response to a trip command; a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path; a fault detection circuit responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the circuit path; and start and stop motor modules. Respective housings are provided for each of the contactor unit, the fault detection circuit, the start motor module and the stop motor module. A data/power communication bus provides a data communication link between each of the contactor unit, the fault detection circuit, the start motor module and the stop motor module. The data/power communication bus also includes power and ground leads for providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit. The fault detection circuit sends the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit includes decoding circuitry for responding by interrupting the circuit path.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a multi-phase circuit path providing current from a multi-phase source to a multi-phase load, comprising: a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the multi-phase circuit path in response to a trip command;   a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the multi-phase circuit path;   a fault detection circuit unit including responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the multi-phase circuit path;   respective housings for each of the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit; and   a data/power communication bus providing a data communications link between the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit and providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit constructed and arranged to send the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit responding by interrupting the multi-phase circuit path.   
     
     
       2. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the data/power communication bus is implemented using a Seriplex communication protocol. 
     
     
       3. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the data/power communication bus includes at least two power lines and a serial data line. 
     
     
       4. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 3, wherein the data/power communication bus includes a data clock line. 
     
     
       5. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a phase fault detection circuit. 
     
     
       6. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes an overload detection circuit. 
     
     
       7. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a phase fault detection circuit and an overload detection circuit. 
     
     
       8. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a stop motor module connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus. 
     
     
       9. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a start motor module connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus. 
     
     
       10. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a start and stop motor module connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus. 
     
     
       11. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a reset module communicating on the data/power communication bus. 
     
     
       12. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 11, further including start and stop motor modules connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus. 
     
     
       13. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a three-phase circuit path providing current from a three-phase source to a three-phase motor, comprising: a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the three-phase circuit path in response to a trip command;   a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the three-phase circuit path;   a fault detection circuit unit including responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the three-phase circuit path;   at least one module providing start and stop motor functions and an overload reset function;   respective housings for each of the contractor unit, the fault detection circuit, and said at least one module;   a data/power communication bus providing a data communication link between each of the contractor unit, the fault detection circuit, said at least one module, and providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit constructed and arranged to send the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit responding by interrupting the three-phase circuit path.   
     
     
       14. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the data/power communication bus includes a single data clock line and a single data line. 
     
     
       15. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a phase fault detection circuit. 
     
     
       16. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 15, wherein the fault detection circuit includes an overload detection circuit. 
     
     
       17. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 16, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a three-phase rectifier circuit. 
     
     
       18. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 17, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a scaling amplifier. 
     
     
       19. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 18, further including a potentiometer for setting a trip point for the fault detection circuit. 
     
     
       20. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein said functions provided by said at least one module have respective corresponding addresses for communicating on the data/power communication bus. 
     
     
       21. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the fault detection circuit is implemented using ASIC technology. 
     
     
       22. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, further including a potentiometer for setting a trip point for the fault detection circuit. 
     
     
       23. A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the fault detection circuit includes an overload detection circuit.